"Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship"

See artifacts from a storied pirate ship

Ever since Johnny Depp put on some guyliner, pirates have been hot again. But as with the Vikings, the gulf between the Hollywood and historical versions is wide. Some of those myths about peg legs and eye patches are put to rest in the Houston Museum of Natural Science's exhibit "Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship." The exhibit, organized by National Geographic, tells the true story of the Whydah, a slave ship captured by pirates in 1717. The slaves joined the crew, and together they raided more than 50 other vessels before sinking off the coast of Cape Cod with only two survivors. "This exhibit unveils the truth surrounding these intriguing men who came from all walks of life," says curator David Temple. More than 200 artifacts from the ship, including treasure chests, swords, a cannon and the ship's bell, will be on display. Other multimedia areas explore daily life in the early-18th-century Caribbean and the slave trade. Don't forget, this is an all-ages exhibit, so you'll have to leave your bottle of rum at the door. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Through February 6. Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. For information, call 713-639-4629 or visit www.hmns.org. $35.
Mondays-Sundays. Starts: Oct. 8. Continues through Feb. 6, 2010